About Me

Change. I've learned to embrace it, ride it out til the end. Sometimes I'm kicking and screaming, other times weeping with my eyes clinched tight. Once in awhile I ride like a dog in a car, head out the window snorting what life has to offer. Mother to young adult children, a marriage of thirty years, and a desert to mountain to valley waltz with God have shaped me into someone I never imagined I'd be. Life is short and I want to live it. Tears, sighs, laughter and change. Every morsel granted to me. Scrambled, shaken or stirred.

Monday, September 10, 2012

I lied. I said I wasn't going to post another peanut butter cookie recipe. Because, I reasoned, how many peanut butter cookie recipes does one person need? Well, this one. For sure. The classic Better Homes and Garden red gingham cookbook has a recipe for peanut butter cookies that I felt the need to completely remodel. Maybe it's because I've been making pear and apple sauce like a crazed beast and needed a vehicle. Maybe it's because peanut butter and chocolate is pretty much my favorite flavor combination. Anyhoo. These suckers have been modified to include healthy ingredients. Half applesauce to replace butter, coconut oil with a very low coconutty flavor. Flax eggs, old-fashioned oatmeal, whole wheat pastry flour. I cut the sugar in half without touching the burst of yumminess. Dare I admit to making a half sized batch which didn't make it 24 hours. And then again a full sized batch that makes about four dozen. And this was all from Thursday to present. There is not one delicious crumb left. None. I am going to put this recipe in my to go to favorites. And I'm going to add to it and turn it into monster cookies as the occasion requires. The addition of chopped peanuts, Vegan chocolate candies and/or other goodies would take them into the next level. In the meantime, here's the recipe. Amazing Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Classic Gone Vegan1/2 Cup coconut oil1/2 Cup applesauce1 Cup peanut butter1 Cup brown sugar2 Flax eggs (2 TBSP ground flax, 6 TBSPS water, combined and set aside to gel)1 tsp vanilla1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt1 and 1/2 Cups whole wheat pastry flour (or flour of your choice)2 Cups old fashioned oatmeal1 Cup chocolate chipsCream the oil, peanut butter, applesauce and sugar together. (it's best that you use everything at room temperature or a mixture because cold peanut butter or applesauce will crunch up the coconut oil if it's liquid)Add the flax eggs, salt, soda and stir. Add vanilla and mix well. Blend in flour and add oatmeal and chocolate chips and mix until incorporated. Roll into walnut sized balls and press lightly onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 11 minutes. I used a stone and didn't need to grease the pan.